Form  F5—1M— 12-18-23— 1 


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I.  Foreign  Missionary  Work 


a.  Aim 

Tlip  motive,  authority  and  jrrogiam  of  For¬ 
eign  Missions  are  found  in  the  Missionary  com¬ 
mand  and  commission  of  our  Lord:  ‘'All  au¬ 
thority  hath  been  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and 
on  eartli.  Go  ye  therefore,  and  make  disciples 
of  all  the  nations,  baptizing  them  into  the  name 
of  the  Father  and  of  the  8on  and  of  the  Holy 
Siririt;  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  I  commanded  you ;  and  lo,  I  am 
with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.”  (Matthew  28:19-20).  This  commis¬ 
sion  was  given  to  the  whole  Body  of  Christ 
and  the  responsibility  of  the  evangelization  of 
non-Christian  nations  is  upon  all  Christians. 

Under  this  commission  the  aim  of  Foreign 
Missions  is  to  make  Jesus  Christ  known  to  all 
men  and  to  lead  them  to  become  his  followers; 
to  invite  them  into  churches  as  was  done  in 
the  early  days  of  the  church,  to  co-operate 
with  them,  and  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  make 
these  churches  self-governing,  self-supporting 
and  self -propagating. 

All  forms  of  missionary  work  which  will  con¬ 
tribute  to  the  carrying  out  of  the  commission 
are  legitimate  and  the  relation  of  these  forms 
of  work,  and  the  proportion  of  each  which 
shall  be  done,  must  be  determined  in  the  light 
of  conditions  and  needs  on  the  fields. 

The  spiritual  aspects  of  the  nn.ssionary  work 
are  entitled  to  the  thoughts  and  affections  of 
all  who  engage  in  it.  Applicants  for  appoint¬ 
ment  as  missionaries  shordd  set  before  their 
minds  the  authority,  glory,  and  grace  of  Christ, 
and  the  honor  of  His  name  in  the  salvation 
of  souls,  as  their  great  aim.  They  shoidd  offer 


tlioir  services  in  the  woik  of  spreading  the 
gospel  under  a  sense  of  l)eing  divinely  called 
to  it,  and  they  should  seek  their  reward  in 
our  blessed  Lord’s  ai^proval. 

b.  Evangelistic  Work 

While  all  missionary  work  should  be  evan¬ 
gelistic,  there  is  a  type  of  service  which  is  al¬ 
ways  directly  evangelistic.  Its  purpose  is  as 
follows :  To  give  the  people  the  saving  message 
of  the  Bible  through  preaching,  personal  work, 
teaching,  community  and  social  service,  insti¬ 
tutional  effort,  literature,  and  the  influence  of 
the  personal  Christian  life  and  the  Christian 
home.  To  lead  the  peojde  who  have  thus  been 
influenced  to  accept  Christ  as  their  Savior.  To 
aid  in  organizing  these  converts  iiito  churches 
according  to  the  New  Testament  plan  and 
to  train  them  in  effective  Christian  work,  and 
to  seek  out  those  who  are  qualified  for  leader¬ 
ship  and  to  train  them  for  service. 

c.  Educational  Work 

Educational  work  can  hardly  be  spoken  of  as 
simidy  Department  of  Foreign  Missions.  Like 
evangelistic  work,  it  -runs  through  the  whole 
enterprise.  The  Missionary  School  affords  an 
effective  means  of  getting  the  young  of  non- 
Christian  parents  under  the  sustained  contact 
of  Christian  leaders  and  through  this  contact 
lead  them  to  Christ.  Another  function  of  Mis¬ 
sionary  Educational  work  is  to  take  the  young 
of  the  Christian  community  and  give  them  a 
thoroughly  Christian  education,  thus  training 
them  for  leadership  in  the  church,  the  nation 
and  in  everyday  life.  An  illiterate  Church 
membership  cannot  win  or  hold  leadership  and 
cannot  free  it.self  of  super.stition  and  pagan 
ideals. 

d.  Medical  Work 

IMucli  of  missionary  effort  must  be  the  serv¬ 
ice  which  the  spirit  of  Christ  renders  in  human 

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(lib^tress.  This  is  the  greatest  demonstration 
to  tlie  fjoople  of  the  real  character  of  Chris¬ 
tianity.  Besides  the  healing  of  the  sick,  the 
hospital  and  dispensary  provides  an  exception¬ 
ally  fine  inediuni  for  direct  personal  work  and 
evangelization.  Xon-Christian  lands  have  little 
means  of  alleviating  disease  and  suffering,  and 
here  Medical  Missions  not  only  applies  the 
service  side  of  the  Gospel,  but  furnishes  a  key 
to  open  the  door  to  hearts  and  communities. 
It  has  been  found  necessary  in  some  lands  to 
go  further  than  the  direct  service  of  the  mis¬ 
sionary  and  to  build  up  as  far  as  possible 
an  indigenous  Christian  Medical  profession, 
through  trained  native  doctors  and  nurses.  It 
is  very  important  that  each  doctor  give  himself 
to  medical  service  and  only  in  the  gravest  emer¬ 
gency  should  he  be  asked  to  drop  it,  even  tem¬ 
porarily,  to  take  up  other  work. 

e.  Work  for  the  Helpless 

One  of  the  most  effective  services  of  the 
Foreign  Mission  enterprise  is  carried  on  among 
the  most  unfortunate  and  helpless.  M"ork  for 
orphans,  lepers,  the  blind,  famine  sufferers  and 
other  needy  ones  provides  a  beautiful  avenue 
for  the  work  of  the  missionary. 

f.  Literary  Work 

Xo  permanent  Christian  work  can  be  carried 
on  without  Christian  Literature  in  the  tongue 
of  the  i^eople.  Christianity  must  mean  not  only 
a  great  field  of  usefulness  here  and  the  print¬ 
ing  press  is  one  of  the  greatest  agencies  for 
good  in  the  work  of  evangelization  and  train¬ 
ing.  The  Bible  and  other  books  are  widely 
circulated  in  the  native  vernacular,  and  tracts, 
periodicals,  Sunday  school  supplies  and  school 
text  books  are  written  and  printed  in  large 
cpiantities.  Literature  for  evangelistic,  apolo¬ 
getic,  and  spiritual  training  purposes  is  neces¬ 
sary  everywhere. 


o 


g.  Industrial  Work 

Christianity  can  only  be  permanent  as  it  lie- 
comes  a  real  jrart  of  the  everyday  industrial 
life  of  the  people.  Especially,  among  primi¬ 
tive  ireoi^les,  in  tropical  lands,  is  it  necessary 
to  adapt  education  to  the  daily  needs  and  crafts 
of  tlie  people.  Christianity  must  mean  not  only 
redeemed  souls,  but  better  nourishment  for 
bodies  and  the  blessing  of  fruitful  labor.  Such 
work  should  always  be  carried  on  with  evan¬ 
gelization  and  the  building  of  Christian  char¬ 
acter  in  mind. 

II.  The  Missionary 

1.  General  Qualifications,  Preparation,  etc. 

a.  Spiritual 

There  is  no  Cliristian  work  in  the  world  more 
difficult  than  that  of  the  Foreign  missionary. 
One  who  is  not  fully  converted  to  Christ  and 
who  does  not  hold  deep  convictions  as  to  the 
fundamentals  of  the  faith,  will  neither  be 
happy  nor  successful  in  the  work.  One  needs 
to  1)6  so  constrained  by  the  love  of  Christ  that 
he  can  carry  on  a  difficult  task  with  joy  and 
evidence  of  this  should  be  forthcoming  by  ex- 
peiience  at  home  before  going  to  the  field.  It 
is  better  to  have  a  few  candidates  with  devotion 
burning  in  their  souls,  than  many  who  lack  in 
earnestness  and  deep  spiritual  qualifications. 

b.  Educational 

The  work  requires  the  very  best  of  educa¬ 
tional  training.  Conditions  have  developed  on 
most  fields  that  make  special  training  more 
necessary  than  formerly.  Besides  the  fact  that 
in  most  fields  the  missionary  is  obliged  to  meet 
well  educated  natives  on  their  own  ground  and 
win  their  respect,  the  task  itself  is  of  such  a 
nature  that  a  well  trained  mind  is  necessary  to 
successfully  master  its  baffling  prolilems.  A 
missionary  must  be  a  leader  and  many  times 
the  task  of  superintending  an  enterprise  falls 

(i 


on  his  shoulders,  where  he  is  not  surrounded  by 
those  who  can  counsel  with  him.  The  minimum 
of  education  should  be  the  equivalent  of  a  full 
college  course  with  a  year  or  two  of  extra  spe¬ 
cial  preparation.  Thorough  Bible  training 
should  always  be  included  in  the  above  or  taken 
extra.  Candidates  should  not  only  have  thor¬ 
ough  Biblical  training,  but  also  such  a  knowl¬ 
edge  of  Christianity  as  to  bo  able  to  strongly 
present  its  claims  to  non-Christian  peoples. 
Linguistic  ability  must  be  evident  to  meet  the 
requirements  of  the  fields.  One  who  cannot 
get  the  native  language  is  most  seriously  handi¬ 
capped.  As  a  rule  married  women  should  have 
the  same  qualifications  as  arc  required  of  single 
women. 

c.  College  of  Missions 

Every  candidate  is  expected  to  spend  a  year 
or  two  of  study  at  the  College  of  Missions  in 
direct  preparation  for  the  work  and  in  addition 
to  college  and  other  training.  This  latter  train¬ 
ing  provides  much  essential  help  besides  the 
intellectual  training  it  affords. 

d.  Physical 

No  missionary  candidate  can  be  considered 
by  the  Society  who  does  not  have  good  health 
and  a  strong  constitution,  and  a  good  health 
history.  As  a  rule,  both  the  climate  and  the 
nature  of  the  work  are  moie  trying  than  at 
home,  and  a  weak  point  in  health  or  physical 
condition  will  soon  be  put  to  the  test.  The 
service  of  the  missionary  is  supposed  to  be  tor 
life,  and  it  is  due  the  work,  as  well  as  the  peo¬ 
ple  who  support  it,  that  a  missionary  have  a 
good  prospect  of  long,  vigorous  service.  The 
Society  requires  a  thorough  physical  examina¬ 
tion. 

e.  Other  Necessary  Qualifications 

Love  for  the  native  people  is  an  absolute 
necessity  for  success.  Tliis  requires  a  natiu'e 


of  dec])  sympathy,  toleranpo,  and  imagination. 
These  qualifications  are  also  necessary  in  order 
to  work  harmoniously  with  one’s  fellow  mis¬ 
sionaries.  The  qualities  of  good  judgment, 
leadership,  team-work  and  patience  will  need 
to  be  strongly  tested  out  before  appointment 
to  a  Foreign  field.  Candidates  should  be  well 
matured  in  experience  before  appointment.  On 
the  other  hand  it  is  not  as  a  rule  deemed  ad¬ 
visable  to  send  workers  out  who  are  beyond 
thirty  years  of  age.  Difficult  problems  arise 
where  candidates  with  children  are  considered 
for  appointment,  and  such  instances  necessitate 
sjiecial  consideration. 

2.  Special  Qualifications 

Those, who  expect  to  do  missionary  work  des¬ 
ignated  as  evangelistic  service,  should  not  only 
have  special  training  beyond  the  college  course, 
but  should  also  have  had  some  definite  expe¬ 
rience  in  pastoral  or  evangelistic  service.  Edu¬ 
cational  missionaries  should  have  special  train¬ 
ing  in  educational  courses  and  should  also  have 
some  ])raetical  experience.  Those  who  are  plan¬ 
ning  to  undertake  medical  service,  will  need  the 
full  accredited  medical  course  and  at  least  a 
year  of  hospital  interneship.  They  should  also 
have  special  training  in  the  Bible.  Such  candi¬ 
dates  should  also  have  successful  experience  in 
Christian  service.  Those  who  go  as  nurses  should 
preferably  have  a  full  college  course  in  addi¬ 
tion  to  the  nurses’  course  and  should  have  the 
training  at  the  College  of  Missions,  together 
with  Bible  training.  One  applying  to  go  as 
an  industrial  missionary,  or  special  worker  of 
any  sort,  should  have  had  thorough  training 
in  his  speciality  besides  good  foundational 
courses  and  traiiiing  in  the  Bible.  Since  the 
educational  phases  of  the  work  are  so  intimate¬ 
ly  connected  with  all  types  of  missionary  serv¬ 
ice,  it  is  urged  that  every  candidate,  become 
somewhat  acquainted  with  pedagogical  work 


S 


and  motliods  beforo  going  out.  Childion  of 
missionaries  who  have  giown  up  on  the  field 
and  wlio  are  preparing  for  missionary  service 
should  have  at  least  a  year  of  practical  service 
at  home  before  going  to  the  field. 

3.  Appointment  to  Fields 

All  candidates  are  required  to  fill  out  l)lanks 
for  information,  file  an  application  blank,  take 
a  thorough  medical  examination,  and  give  suf¬ 
ficient  references  as  to  training  and  other  quali¬ 
fications. 

It  is  required  that  a  personal  interview  ,be 
had  with  each  candidate,  either  by  the  candi¬ 
date  secretary,  or  some  member  of  the  Foreign 
Department,  before  any  final  jilans  are  made 
for  either  training  or  service.  It  is  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  the  (Society  to  have  its  officers  keep 
in  touch  with  volunteers  and  prospective 
candidates  during  their  college  courses  and 
graduate  work.  Xo  final  appointments  will 
lie  made  to  the  fields  until  the  candidate  has 
come  near  the  end  of  his  preparation,  al¬ 
though  fair  assuiances  can  be  made  concein- 
ing  possible  apjiointment,  suliject  to  the  cir¬ 
cumstances  of  health  and  the  testing  of 
qualifications. 

The  College  of  Missions  has  a  faculty  of 
missionary  specialists,  most  of  whom  have 
had  long  service  on  the  mission  field.  One 
of  the  strong  merits  of  the  school  is  the 
ability'  it  affords  for  keeping  in  close  con¬ 
tact  with  the  officers  of  the  Society  in  con¬ 
nection  with  plans  for  appointment  to  the 
field  of  service.  At  the  college,  as  soon  as 
it  is  determined  what  the  probable  field  of 
the  candidate  will  be,  the  student  begins  to 
jirepare  for  that  specific  field  and  has  the 
fellowship  and  help  of  the  others  who  are 
looking  toward  the  same  field.  Direction  aiid 
help  also  is  possible  in  connection  with  the 
particular  type  of  work  for  which  the  candi¬ 
date  is  preparing.  The  College  of  Missions 

9 


also  affords  the  candidate  a  rare  opi)ortnnity 
to  come  in  contact  with  Brotherhood  leader¬ 
ship  and  work. 

While  the  Society  wishes  as  far  as  possdde 
to  satisfy  a  candidate’s  desire  for  a  particular 
field,  it  is  often  necessary  to  advise  change 
in  this  regard,,  in  the  light  of  needs  on  the 
fields  and  the  worker’s  characteristics.  A 
s2)eeial  service  of  appointment  and  ordination 
is  held  at  the  College  of  Missions  each  year,, 
in  connection  with  the  commencement  exer¬ 
cises. 


Su^^ested  Undergraduate  Work  Pre¬ 
paratory  to  College  of  Missions  Work 

The  following  undergraduate  course  is  recom¬ 
mended  for  missionary  candidates  who,  in 
addition  to  their  college  work,  will  take  special 
training  in  the  College  of  Missions: 


Semester  Honrs 


1.  English  . 

2.  History  . 

3.  Science  . ) 

4.  IMathematics  . ) 


5.  Old  Testament  .  .  . 

6.  New  Testament  .  .  . 

7.  Religious  Education 

8.  Psychology  . 

9.  Philosophy  . 

10.  Ethics  or  Doctrine 

11.  Sociology  . 

12.  Language  . 

13.  Public  Speaking  .  . 

14.  Hygiene . 

Id.  Church  History  .  . 


S 

(3 

S 

10 

10 

4 

3 

3 

•> 
f  > 

4 

20 

4 

4 

4 


Total  91 

In  regard  to  the  above  list  the  following 
may  be  said :  The  studies  recommended  ai  e 
aimed  to  give  the  student  first  a  broad 

10 


cultural  course,  and  secondarily,  to  jn-opare 
him  for  the  special  training  which  is  given 
at  the  College  of  Missions.  The  course  out¬ 
lined  is  an  ideal  course  and  not  intended  to 
be  rigidly  insisted  on.  It  is  felt,  however, 
that  ordinarily  the  student  should  as  far  as 
possible,  conform  to  this  course.  The  total 
number  of  semester  hours  required  for  gradua¬ 
tion  is  usually  slightly  in  excess  of  120.  As 
this  course  provides  for  about  ninety  hours, 
it  gives  the  student  ample  margin  for  taking 
a  few  extra  courses  and  for  specializing  along 
the  line  of  his  major. 

Appended  are  a  few  special  iiotes  in  re¬ 
gard  to  the  courses  as  given  above'. 

1.  English:  The  student  should  pay  partic¬ 
ular  attention  to  Grammar,  and,  if  availalde, 
a  course  in  Higher  Grammar  should  be  taken 
in  college.  The  reason  for  this  is  that  a 
foreign  language  cannot  be  properly  masten'd 
unless  the  student  has  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  his  mother  tongue.  This  applies  particularly 
to  the  grammatical  structure  of  the  language. 

2.  History:  Every  student  should  have 
a  course  in  History,  partly  for  its  cidtural 
value  and  partly  , becau.se  of  the  historical  con¬ 
nections. 

.‘).  Science :  Biology  would  probably  be 

the  most  usefid  of  the  laboi-atory  sciences. 

.■)  and  ().  Itible  woik:  Every  student 
should  have  as  complete  a  course  in  Biblical 
snbjects  as  jmssible.  The  amounts  put  down 
here  are  what  should  bo  the  minimum  prepara¬ 
tion.  Giaduate  Bib’e  Courses  are  offered  in 
the  College  of  Missions. 

7,  8,  i),  10  and  11.  Course  7  is  practical, 
while  courses  8  and  9  furnish  a  background 
for  orientation  into  the  study  of  the  religion 
and  philosophy  of  non-Christian  peoples,  and 
are  practically  prerequisites  for  courses  given 
in  the  College  of  Missions.  In  a  similar  way, 

11 


iium])ei’  11,  Sociology,  is  liighly  essential  for 
understanding  the  cidture  and  life  of  the 
l)eop]e,  and  is  a  ])rerequisite  to  some  College 
of  Missions  courses. 

12.  Language:  Xo  missionary  can  be 

effective  unless  he  has  a  thorough  knowledg’e 
of  the  people  among  whom  he  is  working. 
It  is  recommended  that  at  least  one  language 
be  a  modern  language.  French  is  always  use¬ 
ful.  tipanish  is  the  language  for  candidates 
preparing  for  Latin-America.  Rnch  language 
study  not  only  has  practical  value,  but  also 
introduces  a  student  into  the  method  of  learn¬ 
ing  a  language  in  such  a  way  as  to  sjreak  and 
use  it. 

15.  Church  History:  Clnrrcli  History  is 
preliminary  to  a  study  of  missionary  expan¬ 
sion  and  growth. 


Candidate  Secretary 

Miss  Lela  E.  Taylor 

United  Christian  Missionary  Society 


425  DeBaliviere  Ave. 


St.  Louis,  Missouri 


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